Combination surface and intaglio printing machine



Jan. 21, 1941. H. A. sco'r-r ET AL COMBINATION SURFACE AND INTAGLIO ram-me MACHINE Original Filed June 9, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTORS.62. M

abdjmm v I ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 21, 1941. 'H; A. sco'rT ET-AL 2,229,226

COMBINATION SURFACE AND INTAGLIO PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed June 9,1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ENTORS.

Q. Zia BY Ki M ATTORNEY6 Jan. 21, 1941. 2,229,226

cousrn'rrou sunmcz AND INTAGLIO PRINTING cum? H. A. SCOTT ETAL OriginalFiled June 9, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 n-21.1941 H. A. SCOTT Em. 2229.226

COMBINATION SURFACE AND INTAG LIO PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed June9, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INV 0R5.

BY I 3 Patented Jan. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATIONSURFACE AND INTAGLIO PRINTING MACHINE Original application June 9, 1936,Serial No. 84,278. Divided and this application October 26, 1937, SerialNo. 171,016

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a surface and intaglio printing machine withindividual impression cylinders. This application is a division of ourcopending application, Ser. No. 84,278, how Patent No. 2,102,386, datedDecember 14, 1937.

There have been certain complications and difficulties inherent insurface and intaglio printing machines. As the number of colors desiredto be printed are increased, the difliculties of maintainingregistration or of securing registration when fitting the pattern areincreased in that in general each printing head requires severaladjustments resulting in numerous stops with consequent wastage. Inmaking the adjustments, due to the number of variables, they must bemade several times to ultimately get exact registration. The adjustmentmechanisms are generally complicated and the printing heads and bracketsare of such size as to require for a number of colors a comparativelylarge machine, also the various heads, although similar, cannot be madeentirely interchangeable where the drive is from a central main gear.

With our invention, the construction of a surface and intaglio printingmachine has been simplified and made more compact with all printingheads interchangeable and operating in the horizontal plane. The designof the heads is such that the vertical distance between the heads isreduced to a minimum thereby permitting more printing heads for a givensize machine. The print cylinders are easily removed enabling quickrenewal or substitution of print cylinders. r The excessive wastage ofthe web of material at the commencement of operations is materiallyreduced in our invention by reducing the number of variables to beadjusted to one for each head and in positioning the controls in such amanner that the operator can make the necessary adjustments for theheads on one side of the machine without materially changing hisposition. The printing cylinders are maintained against the impressioncylinders by spring pressure, thereby en-' a-bling any paster or foreignmatter adhering to the Web to pass between the printing and impressioncylinders without damaging the web or affecting the printing adjacent tothe foreign matter or harming the cylinders or machinery in any 50particular. With our invention, all heads may be released simultaneouslyby manually throwing a quick throwout lever. One of the importantelements of our invention is the simplification of the driving means andthe utilization of the driv- 5 ing means as a co-operating means tosecure reg- The printing heads 2 extend horizontally from frame I.

istration. By such use many small gears are eliminated and the machineis capable of considerable reduction in size, with various other ensuingbenefits. The construction of the machine permits its use both forsurface printing as well as-intaglio printing.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a surface printer thatcan be utilized for intaglio printing.

A further object of our invention is to provide a surface printer ofsimplified and compact construction.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a surface andintaglio printer that will permit the maximum number of printing headsfor any given sizemachine.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a surface printerthat will permit easy and quick registration to be obtained with theminimum wastage of web material.

A still further object of our invention is the elimination of ripples orcreases forming in the paper during printing.

Still another object of the invention is the elimination of damage tothe web or rolls by foreign matter or pasters adhering to the web.

A still further object of our invention is to permit the correctregistering of a multi-color pa;t tern when the pattern is not cut to atrue center 30 line of block or plate cylinder.

A further object of our invention is to provide a machine for surfaceand intaglio printing that can be a self-contained unit machine withunroll, printing, slitting, trimming and rewinding. 35

Further objects will appear more fully hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a device embodying theprinciples of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view along the line 2, 2 of Fig. 1 looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a detailed elevation view of a printing head partly shown insection.

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view of Figure 3 along the line 4, 4;

Figure 5 is a detailed view along the line 5, 5 of Figure 3 looking inthe direction of the arrows, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view of Figure 5 along 50 the line 6, 6 lookingin the direction of, the arrows.

In carrying out our invention, we provide a Unlike the .usual frames forsurface printers, it is not the hexagon or octagon shape.

the sides of the machine in vertical alinement. In Figure 1, only threeprinting heads are shown on one side but the frame is adaptable forvertical enlargement to place up to four or more 5 heads on each side ofthe machine, making a total of eight or more colors that can be printeddepending upon the height of the heads.

The heads are of special construction. The number of heads that canbeafllxed to each side 10 of the machine is considerably increased inproportion to the main frame height in our invention by the utilizationof tubular support 3 doing away i with the usual cast iron brackets.Tubular support 3 has a foot 4 welded thereto which is bolted 15 bybolts 5 to frame I. Carriage 5 encloses and is slidably mounted ontubular support 3. Secured to carriage 8 is a threaded nut I meshingwith threaded portion 8 of shaft 3 passing through tubular support 3,foot 4 and a portion of frame l.

20 Shaft 9 has adjustment handwheel III at one end and the other end ofshaft 3 bears against a throwout cam ll' carried by hand lever Handlever H is the quick release that operates all the heads through linksl2. A spring l3 in tubular support 3 has a dual function, it maintainsshaft 9 against cam ll of the quick release through compressionpressure, at the same time.

In the case of foreign matter on the web, it permits it to pass betweenthe print roll l4 and the functions. Not only does it cause movement ofcarriage 8 when handwheel I8 is rotated due to the threaded portion 8 ofshaft 9, but also nut 35 maintains the head in vertical position due toits engagement in slot l5. (See Figures 3, 4 and 5.) Of course, theprimary function of-nut is to operate as a key in slot l6, wherebycarriage 6 will slide on support 3.

Secured to carriage 5 is casting supporting the bearings for thefountain roll l8 and the inking roll l9. Manual adjustment of fountainroll I8 is accomplished through handwheel 20 which raises or lowers theslide bearings contained in casting IT. This gives control with respectto the distance between the fountain roll l8 and the inking roll I 3,thereby permitting control of the amount of ink supplied to roll IS. Thebearings for rolls I8 and I9 are of the self-alining ball-bearing type.Supported on carriage 6 5 and adapted to slide on a dovetail 22 on thetop thereof, is support 2|. print roll H in latch bearing 23. Latchbearing 23 is supported on swivel plate 24, which in turn is fastened tothreaded stud 25, the latter being mounted in support 2|. By turningstud 25 by means of a pin inserted in holes 26, stud 25 can be. raisedor lowered, which in turn raises r lowers latch bearing 23. free toswivel on swivel plate 24.

.The elimination of ripples or creases which form in the paper duringthe printing is accom,- plished by varying the horizontal distance fromthe vertical center line of the machine to the center line of theimpression cylinders.

85 Referring to Figure 1, it will be noted, the first impressioncylinder is located closer to the vertical center line than the secondimpression cylinder and the fourth impression cylinder, if added, wouldhave a center line the same as the 70 first impression cylinder.- FERother words, the paper is led around a theoretical radius. When apattern is transferred from a transfer paper to a printing roller and anall over design is cut, sometimes the putter on who cuts the pattern,

75 fails to lay the pattern in position with respect impression roll l5.Nut 1 also has a plurality of Support 2| carries- Latch bearing 23 is toa true center line with the shaft and when this error occurs, it isnecessary to have a vertical adjustment for the print roll or platecylinder bearings in order to correct for this human error whenregistering a multi-colored pattern from side to side of the web. Stud25 furnishes such adjustment means.

It should be noted that every adjusting screw throughout the machine hasa locking arrangement and that no wrenches are required to makeadjustments during the operation of the machine.

Roll I4 is adjustable with respect to transfer roll IS. The manualadjustment is made as follows: Shaft 21 carries handwheel 28 at one endand is threaded at 29 adjacent'to the other end. Secured to the end ofshaft 21 are collars 30 and 3| .on each side of lug 32, which latter inturn is integral with support 2|. A nut 33 is fastened to dovetail 22,which in turn is secured to carriage 8. The manual operation ofhandwheel 28, therefore, moves support 2| in dovetail 22, bringing roll|4 towards roll l9, or away therefrom, depending upon the direction ofrotation. This adjustment is primarily required to accommodate varyingdiameters of print roll M which may range from about three inches toeight inches in diameter, or larger, depending upon the length of thetubular supports and their centers.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the design of the latch bearing 23 is ofimportance since it is desirable that roll H be adjustable in acrosswise position with respect to the impression roller or with respectto the web. The construction of the mechanism is as follows: Latchbearing 23 carries latch 34 which overhangs bearings 23 and ridesbetween two collars 35 and 35 on shaft 31 of print roll l4. Latch 34 isadjusted crosswise by means of threaded screw 38, thereby moving shaft31 of roll M as required. Roll I4 is removed by releasing wing nut 39and lifting latch 34. As all the heads are standardized, the descriptionwith respect to one will'cover them all.

It should be noted that the pans for the fountain rolls are also ofspecial construction. Refern'ng to Figure 4, pan 40, is of sheet metalwelded construction surrounding fountain or furnishing roll l8 to aboutmid-diameter and has supports 4| at each end. We provide for quick andeasy removal of pan 48 asfollows: Connected to casting I1 is a shelf 42having a hinged portion 43 with a pivotal connection 44. Hinged portion43 has a slot to receive support 4| therein. A latch 45 secures portions42 and 43 in the horizontal plane when in position, The withdrawal oflatch 45 drops the hinged portion 43, thereby releasing the support 4|,enabling withdrawal of pan 40. Reversing the procedure enables there-securing of pan 40 in position.

We preferably utilize a ball spring device in connection with latch 45to prevent accidental displacement. This being a well-known mechanism,it requires no illustration. We provide a cover 46 partially enclosingthe inking roll I9 5 and the fountain or furnishing roll l8. Cover 46rests on shaft 41 on a bronze bearing 48. Bearing 48 is asemicircumferential hearing. The sides of cover 46 extend within theends of pan 4!! thereby acting as splash guards. Cover 46 is 7 removableby grasping handles 49- and lifting same from the rolls. Cover 45 notonly tends to prevent the drying and evaporation of the quick dryinginks but also prevents dust and foreign matters from getting into thepan 48, which would affect the proper printing and injure the rubbercovering of the rolls.

With our invention, we propose to drive the various rolls by means of achain 50. A multiple width chain is preferably utilized. The speed ofthe chain is preferably run at a lineal speed in excess of the linealspeed of the web. The chain must be maintained taut in order to maintainproper registration and its utilization for correcting out of registryprinting. Manual takeup 5| is used for maintaining the chain taut. Anywell known form of takeup may be used. The drive is as follows:

Drive shaft 52 actuates chain 50 which passes around idler sprockets 53,thence around sprockets 54 on studs 55 which latter carry gears 56,which mesh with gears 51 on shafts 58 on impression roll 15. Gears 5'!in turn drive the gears connected to rolls I 4, I9 and I8. The chaindrive enables the utilization of standard interchangeable gears, greatercompactness in the design of the machine and elimination of mechanicalregistering mechanisms for the heads. This latter is accomplished in anovel 'manner as follows:

Sprocket 54 and gear 56 are carried by the.

same stud 55 secured to bell crank lever 60. Lever 60 can be motivatedthrough handwheel 6| whereby sprocket 54 can be swung either upwardly ordownwardlyaround the center of shaft 58. The chain drive must bedesigned and assembled in such a way that there is no material change inthe length of the chain 50 when the adjustment of bell crank lever 60 ismade. In the movement of lever 60, chain 50 acts as a rack causingsprocket 54 either to rotate faster or slower than chain 5|], therebymoving the print roll on one side with respect to the web and withrespect to the other printing heads so that registration may beobtained. -With our invention, the actuation of handwheel 6| on eachprinting head permits the securing of registration lengthwise of theweb.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a surface printer that is ofsimplified and compact structure, that is quickly adjusted foroperation, that has interchangeable heads wherein the printing, transferand furnishing rolls are readily adjustable with respect to theimpression roll, and the printing cylinder is positively held with apositive spring pressure against the impression cylinder, but enablingany foreign matter carried by the web to pass through without injury tothe mechanism or web. And wherein the drive mechanism is positive, atthe same time flexible, and functions as a co-operating means foradjustment for registration of the printing cylinder with respect to theweb, or other printing cylinders, and wherein a greater number of colorsmay be printed on the same sized machine than has generally beenpossible heretofore. I

We claim:'

1. In a printing machine, a frame, a plurality of printing heads,tubular supports secured to said frame for said heads, said heads havingcarriages slidably mounted on said tubular support, a shaft passingthrough said tubular support and 5 having a threaded portion, a nut forsaid threaded portion operating in a slot in said carriage formotivating said carriage when said shaft is rotated.

2. In a printing machine, a frame, a plurality of printing heads,tubular supports secured to said frame for said heads, said heads havingcarriages slidably mounted on said tubular supports, a shaft passingthrough said tubular support and having a threaded portion, a nut forsaid 15 threaded portion operating in a slot in said carriage formotivating said carriage when said shaft is rotated, said nut securedalso to said head to maintain same in vertical position.

3. In a printing machine, a frame, a plurality of printing heads,tubular supports secured to said frame for said heads, said heads havingcarriages slidably mounted on said tubular supports, means for adjustingsaid carriages on said supports, and means for yieldingly maintainingsaid heads in adjusted printing position to permit any foreign matter onthe web to pass through.

4. In a printing machine, a frame, an impression cylinder iournalled insaid frame, a printing cylinder co-operating therewith, a pair ofsupports carried by said frame, a carriage for said printing cylinderslidabie on said supports, a shaft mounted in each support for rotaryand reciprocatory movement and having threaded connections with saidcarriage, resilient means urging said shaftstoward said frame andpositive means for moving said shafts away from said frame.

5. In a printing machine according to claim 1, cam means for moving saidshafts away from said frame, and resilient means opposing such movement.

6. In a printing machine according to claim 2, cam means for moving saidshafts away from said frame, and resilient means opposing such movement.

'7. In a printing machine according to claim 3, positive means foreffecting movement of said carriages and said adjusting means away fromsaid frame.

8. In a printing machine, a frame, an impression roller supportedthereby, a support attached to said frame, a carriage slidable on saidsupport toward and away from said frame, a slide mounted on saidcarriage, a printing rollersupported by said slide, an inking rollercarried by said carriage independent of said slide, and screw means formoving said slide on said carriage to adjust said printing rollerrelative to said inking roller.

HARRY A. SCO'IT. LYNN B. CASE.

